NFL Week 8: Rams Surprise Saints, Lions Dominate Broncos, And More

Gore’s running was the heart of the Niners offense, but Alex Smith’s renaissance as a competent game manager also continues apace. The former No. 1 NFL Draft pick threw for 177 yards and a touchdown, and made no glaring errors.

The Browns never got closer than seven points after San Francisco’s opening drive.

With the win, Cincinnati moves to 5-2 on the year; Seattle falls to 2-5 with the loss.

For more on the Bengals, visit Cincy Jungle. For more on the Seahawks, visit Field Gulls. SB Nation has you covered for the rest of Week 8’s NFL action, too: check out all the Week 8 NFL news and scores and Week 8 fantasy stats, and Week 8 NFL highlights in our dedicated StoryStreams, and hit SB Nation’s NFL hub for plenty more.

The Lions sacked Tebow seven times, and forced three turnovers; Tebow’s two, a fumble and an interception, both turned into defensive touchdowns, meaning that he sort of outscored his offense by himself.

Clearly, Tebow starting is no panacea for what ails Denver, not that the Lions minded poking a little fun at the Broncos’ supposed savior: multiple Lions mocked the “Tebowing” trend that swept the Internet in the past week.

The victory lifts the Steelers to 6-2 on the season. The Patriots fall to 5-2 with the loss.

For more on the Steelers, visit Behind the Steel Curtain. For more on the Patriots, visit Pats Pulpit. SB Nation has you covered for the rest of Week 8’s NFL action, too: check out all the Week 8 NFL news and scores and Week 8 fantasy stats, and Week 8 NFL highlights in our dedicated StoryStreams, and hit SB Nation’s NFL hub for plenty more.

Good try, New England Patriots! I like the onside kick idea, but the execution could’ve used some work. I mean, the whole attempt might’ve paid off, had the kick traveled more than about six yards. It also looked like the kick hit the kicker in the back of the leg, so New England gets bonus points for that.

Via CJZero

This was the sort of dominant victory that has made Buffalo a dark horse in the AFC. And with New England’s struggles in Pittsburgh, it gives the Bills an extra boost in the AFC East.

The win moves Buffalo to 5-2 on the season, and drops Washington to 3-4 in 2011.

The Browns are struggling against a resurgent 49ers team. They trail 17-3 in the third quarter. If Hardesty cannot return, it will leave Cleveland thin at running back. Recent addition Chris Ogbonnaya has done the bulk of the rushing work today, picking up eight carries for 25 yards. The 49ers defense is one of the toughest in the league, especially for opposing running backs.

Fortunately for Avril and the Lions, he declined the opportunity for some Tebowing following his sack. He even declined to add to the Lions’ Tebowing today.

Halfway through the third quarter, Tebow has completed just four of 13 passes for 37 yards. On the ground, he has 15 yards on four rushing attempts.

Your soundtrack for this post.

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After the games, Smith had some not so nice criticism. Under the veil of accepting any official’s decision, Smith decided to call the official who made the call incompetent in the most respectful way he could. Video after the jump.

Apparently, Smith is dissatisfied with the advanced age and physical fitness of the official who called holding on him. But, Smith says the gimping 70-year-old man must have got the call right, because he’s the official. See guys, no criticizing the refs here!

Gotta give Branch the edge in the dancing category. No idea what Brown is even doing here.

Bradshaw got his foot taped and returned to the game. He finished with 13 carries for 50 yards in the Giants 20-17 victory against winless Miami.

After the game, Bradshaw said that his foot is “just sore right now.” (via New York Daily News’ Ebenezer Samuel)

Told you. You can’t stop watching it, either.

Tulloch’s appropriation of Tebowing took Twitter by storm seconds after it happened, the first salvo in a debate sure to rage all week.

As for Tebow himself, the Denver quarterback is off to a rough start. He has completed two of eight passes for 30 yards with ten minutes left in the second quarter.

Rice ran for just 63 yards, and none of his three touchdowns covered more than three yards, but all three of them came in the second half, which saw Baltimore outscore Arizona 21-3.

With the victory, the Ravens move to 5-2 on the year, while the Cardinals drop to 1-6 with the loss.

The Lions’ touchdown came after Denver kicked a field goal on their opening drive of the game.

Through the first quarter, Young leads all Detroit receivers with three catches for 58 yards and a touchdown. Matt Stafford is a perfect seven for seven with 83 yards passing.

St. Louis got its first win of the season in this one, and moves to 1-6 for 2011; the Saints suffered their third loss, and fell to 5-3.

For more on the Rams, visit Turf Show Times. For more on the Saints, visit Canal Street Chronicles. SB Nation has you covered for the rest of Week 8’s NFL action, too: check out all the Week 8 NFL news and scores and Week 8 fantasy stats, and Week 8 NFL highlights in our dedicated StoryStreams, and hit SB Nation’s NFL hub for plenty more.

Schaub threw for 225 yards and a touchdown, and ran for another score, while Foster ran for 112 yards and a touchdown of his own as the Texans beat the Jaguars, 24-14.

Consistency was the order of the day for Houston: 10 conversions of 17 third down attempts helped the Texans stay on the field and stave off a late comeback attempt.

Cam Newton is all over our NFL Week 8 Highlight Videos stream, but it was a play that was called back for holding, which might have been his most visually appealing feat.

Introducing the Cam Flip (Newton Nosedive?).

The Titans improve to 4-3 on the year with the victory, while the Colts fall to 0-8 with the loss — pole position in the 2012 NFL Draft sweepstakes that has Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck as its grand prize.

For more on the Titans, visit Music City Miracles. For more on the Colts, visit Stampede Blue. SB Nation has you covered for the rest of Week 8’s NFL action, too: check out all the Week 8 NFL news and scores and Week 8 fantasy stats, and Week 8 NFL highlights in our dedicated StoryStreams, and hit SB Nation’s NFL hub for plenty more.

As it was, the Panthers lost 24-21 and Newton’s three-touchdown effort was for naught.

Chris Johnson is having a terrible season. The Titans running back has rushed for more than 100 yards in just one game and totaled less than 55 yards in four of the first five weeks of the season.

How much worse could it get? Well, he started losing carries to backup Javon Ringer on Sunday. And now Johnson doesn’t even look like the Titans top running back any more. RotoWorld.com’s Evan Silva:

Here’s the video:

Here’s video of the go-ahead TD: